Scottish Executive

Child Safety

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the report commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive and prepared by Professor David Ball which suggests that the cost of safety surfaces in children’s playgrounds cannot be justified in cost benefit terms, as reported in Scotland on Sunday on 27 January 2002.

Cathy Jamieson: I understand that the Health and Safety Executive has commissioned a report from Professor David Ball as part of wider discussions about playground safety. The report has not yet been published but will be made available publicly soon in the Health and Safety Executive’s Contract Research Report series.

Child Safety

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the provision of safety surfaces in children’s playgrounds.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations govern the materials which can be used to provide safety surfaces in children’s playgrounds.

Cathy Jamieson: Health and safety is a reserved matter enforced by the Health and Safety Executive or local authorities depending on the type of premises. There are no specific regulations covering children’s playgrounds under health and safety law. The Health and Safety Executive has issued a sector information minute which provides information on the physical standards expected in children’s playgrounds, the management systems play providers should have in place and the relevance and status of applicable European standards. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19102).

Culture

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Brunton Theatre Company will receive a share of the £3.5 million additional funding for the theatre sector announced by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport on 28 January 2002 and, if so, how much it will receive.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Arts Council will determine how the additional £3.5 million funding will be allocated.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the South of Scotland Pathfinder Group as referred to in Connecting Scotland: Our broadband future , (a) how many times the group has met, (b) when the group last met, (c) what the membership of the group is and (d) what funding it has made available to the group.

Mr Andy Kerr: The South of Scotland Pathfinder Steering Group has met three times, most recently on 20 December 2001. In addition to formal meetings of the steering group, more frequent meetings have taken place at working level.

  The steering group consists of 12 members representing each of the local authorities, local enterprise companies and health bodies in the pathfinder area (Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils). Higher and further education and the Scottish Executive are also represented. We are currently considering funding for the local project manager and his team.

Driving Licences

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to review the process of driving licence withdrawal from a person with a deteriorating psychiatric condition.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including driver licensing.

E-Envoy

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Her Majesty’s Government’s e-Envoy and what issues were discussed.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the e-Envoy and with officials at all levels in the Office of the e-Envoy. In particular, the Executive is represented on the e-Champions Joint Collaborative Group, chaired by Andrew Pinder, the e-Envoy which brings together the devolved administrations and the e-Envoy quarterly to discuss the whole e-agenda.

Education

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the ideas contained in The Trachtenberg Speed System of Basic Mathematics by Jakow Trachtenberg have played in the teaching of arithmetic.

Nicol Stephen: To our knowledge, none at present. Education authorities and schools are, of course, free to use whichever specific teaching methods they consider best meet the needs of pupils.

Epilepsy

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what standard literature on epilepsy is provided by each NHS and health board to newly diagnosed patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the literature currently used by NHS boards is not held centrally. The Executive's plans to improve communication with patients and provide better patient information were set out in Patient Focus and Public Involvement , published on 12 December 2001. These plans should bring a better quality of information to people with epilepsy and other health conditions.

European Funding

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to work with Her Majesty’s Government and UK representatives in Brussels to ensure that West Dunbartonshire receives a level of European Structural Funding support that reflects the social and economic circumstances of the area.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is already fully engaged with the UK Government in the development of the UK position in the debate on the future of European Structural Funds. We participated in significant events last year such as the Cohesion Forum in Brussels in May, the Namur Informal Council in July and meetings with the Commissioner for Regional Policy and Scottish MEPs in September.

  We are working with the breadth of Scottish interests to produce a robust presentation of the key areas for structural funds in the future and to ensure that Scottish priorities are adequately reflected in the final UK position. We expect to attend the commission’s seminars on the 10 priorities highlighted in the Second Cohesion Report in May. Subject to clarification on the format of these seminars it is hoped a broad Scottish delegation will accompany us.

European Funding

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects have been set up using European Structural Fund grants in (a) East Dunbartonshire and (b) West Dunbartonshire in each of the past four years.

Peter Peacock: The numbers of projects approved in 1999, 2000 and 2001 are shown in the following tables. There were no project application rounds for objective 2 in 2000 (the gap between the old and new programmes), and there is yet to be a round of decisions issued for either objective for 2002.

  Objective 2 (ERDF & ESF)

  Number of projects:

  





1999 
  

20001


2001 
  

20022




West Dunbartonshire 
  

12 
  

0 
  

4 
  






East Dunbartonshire 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  






Dunbartonshire wide 
  

4 
  

0 
  

3 
  






  Notes:

  1. There were no project applications for 2000 as this was the gap between the old and new programme.

  2. We have yet to have a round of decisions issued in 2002.

  Objective 3 (ESF)

  Number of projects:

  





1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  

20021




West Dunbartonshire 
  

1 
  

5 
  

4 
  






East Dunbartonshire 
  

8 
  

4 
  

1 
  






  Note:

  1. We have yet to have a round of decisions issued in 2002.

Ferry Services

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional funding to Fife Constabulary to meet the cost of policing associated with the Rosyth Ferry Terminal.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in discussion with Fife Constabulary about the additional policing costs arising from the commencement of the proposed Rosyth ferry service.

Further and Higher Education

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the management and accountability of higher and further education institutions.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Higher education institutions are autonomous with their own governing bodies to whom they are responsible. As part of the Review of Higher Education, we will be taking the opportunity to consult on a wide range of issues including aspects of management and accountability.

  A commitment has also been given to undertake a review of governance and accountability in the further education sector.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of planned research by the World Health Organization into travel related deep vein thrombosis

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the World Health Organization with regard to its planned research into travel related deep vein thrombosis.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government’s Department of Health on the planned research by the World Health Organization on travel related deep vein thrombosis.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is aware of the research planned by the World Health Organisation into travel related deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, the cost of this large epidemiological study is great (over £4.8 million) and at present funding for this study has not been secured. Although the Department of Health in England has agreed to contribute towards these costs, this is conditional upon funding being provided by other sources such as the airline industry. The Scottish Executive has not made any direct representation to the World Health Organisation or the Department of Health relating to this subject.

  The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive is currently funding three projects at a cost of £328,000 into aspects of DVT, the findings of which will inform the future direction of research and treatment of DVT.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of grant will be available to any homeowners facing common ownership charges of between £7,500 and £9,500 should the Glasgow housing stock transfer takes place.

Ms Margaret Curran: Homeowners in Glasgow whose properties may require to be improved as a result of the Glasgow housing transfer will be eligible to apply for assistance through the improvement and repairs grant scheme. The level of assistance available will depend on individual circumstances.

Land

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital cost of each community buy-out has been since 1994, including the cost of the community buy-out of Assynt.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Public funding awarded to community buy-outs is available from various sources, details of overall funding are not held centrally. The capital cost of community buy-outs administered through Highlands and Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit which was established in July 1997 amounts to £7.3 million. The unit holds limited information on community buy-outs prior to 1997 but are able to advise that the capital cost awarded to Assynt Crofters Trust amounted to £300,000.

  Details of awards to assist in community buy-outs from the New Opportunities Fund's Scottish Land Fund, established in February 2001, are a reserved matter for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Can I invite the member to write to Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of the New Opportunities Fund in this regard.

Land

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual costs of funding community buy-outs have been since 1994.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The annual costs of funding community buy-outs is not held centrally as funding is available from various sources. I have, however, detailed in the table, the annual costs of funding community buy-outs administered through Highlands and Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit since 1997 when the unit was established.

  


Financial Year 
  

No. of Acquisitions 
  

£ 
  



1997-98 
  

1 
  

30,000 
  



1998-99 
  

4 
  

158,750 
  



1999-2000 
  

13 
  

233,944 
  



2000-01 
  

17 
  

455,181 
  



2001-Present 
  

16 
  

686,469 
  



Total 
  

51 
  

1,564,344 
  



  It should be noted that these are approvals of assistance not actual expenditure as there are some projects which have been approved but for various reasons, have not gone ahead. The unit holds limited information on community buy-outs prior to 1997 but are able to advise that three additional buy-outs which occurred in the 1990's before 1997 amounted to capital costs totalling £1,811,500.

  Details of awards made to assist in community buy-outs from the New Opportunities Fund's Scottish Land Fund, established in February 2001, are a reserved matter for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Can I invite the member to write to Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of the New Opportunities Fund in this regard.

Land

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs created by community buy-outs since 1994 have been subsidised.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Jobs created by community buy-outs have not been subsidised using the definition of subsidised as "long-term on-going recurrent contribution toward salary and other employment related costs". However, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit have contributed to the running costs of development workers employed by community land owners for fixed time periods, usually a maximum of three years. Details of contributions follow:

  


Funding Type 
  

Applicant Group 
  

HIE Funding Approved 
  



Project Officer 
  

Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust 
  

£30,000 
  



Project Officer 
  

The Laggan Forest Trust Forestry Company Ltd 
  

£24,391 
  



Project Officer 
  

The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust 
  

£20,839 
  



Project Officer 
  

Fernaig Community Trust 
  

£24,520 
  



Project Officer 
  

Kinlochleven Land Development Trust 
  

£17,333 
  



Project Officer 
  

Colonsay Community Development Company 
  

£29,680 
  



Total 
  

£116,763

Land

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been created by community buy-outs since 1994.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Details of jobs created by community buy-outs since 1994 are not available.

  It should be recognised that for many community land initiatives, job creation is not necessarily the primary objective. Priorities can vary, and include security and control of land, environmental management, access and amenity, provision of social services, building management, and promotion of voluntary activity.

  Job creation and retention, both of a direct and indirect type, can take time. In some community land buy-outs, there has been some initial loss of employment as the new community owner attempts to put the estate on a more sound, financially sustainable footing. In others, the formation of subsidiary companies and encouragement of other business start-up has created indirect spin-off employment.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit have, however, estimated the employment impact of two community land owners as follows:

  


Knoydart 
  

12.75 
  



Eigg 
  

19 
  



  These figures include created, retained, direct and indirect jobs.

Libraries

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding for the provision of library books was allocated by each local authority in each of the past five years.

Dr Elaine Murray: The information requested is not held centrally. Statutory responsibility for local libraries lies with local authorities. It is for the local authorities themselves to determine the level of resources allocated for the library service which they provide for the residents in their area, including the provision of books.

Ministers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any past or current ministers or any of its officials have at any time in the course of their duties met in an official or unofficial capacity anyone who worked for, was a board director of, or lobbied on behalf of Enron.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any past or current ministers or any of its officials have at any time attended an official or unofficial function, reception, dinner or event paid for in whole or in part by Enron or a company lobbying on behalf of, or representing Enron.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all national or international energy companies which have ever (a) met ministers, (b) met officials and (c) made representations to it either directly or through a third party.

Lewis Macdonald: In the course of their duties, Scottish ministers and officials with responsibility for a wide range of issues have been in contact with a large number of companies and other organisations and individuals, both in the energy field and in other areas. This will continue to be the case. We have no knowledge or record of any such contact with or about Enron, aside from one e-mail exchange with an official last year about renewable energy.

National Parks

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £258,788 announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 14 June 2001 for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park marketing programme has been spent to date; what the money has been spent on, and what the balance is expected to be spent on.

Peter Peacock: To date £26,805 of European Regional Development Fund has been claimed for marketing, media advertising, public relations and direct mailing. The balance will be spent on staffing, public relations, media advertising, direct mailing, printing material and a dedicated website.

Public Transport

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20918 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 January 2002, why no evaluation has been carried out and whether it is confident that Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority has been carrying out its statutory duties.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive maintains close contact with the authority, the constituent councils and other interested parties involved in the delivery of public transport in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPTA) area. We are aware of no substantial evidence that SPTA has failed to carry out its statutory duties.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve public transport links between Dunbartonshire and Glasgow.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is supporting improved public transport links between Glasgow and Dunbartonshire through the Baillieston-Faifley Quality Bus Corridor, working towards doubling the frequency of rail services between Milngavie and Glasgow as part of the Larkhall-Milngavie rail project, and most recently by supporting West Dunbartonshire Council's Public Transport Fund bid for enhancements to the public transport infrastructure in and around Dumbarton town centre.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Borders rail line could be converted to light rail as suggested by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning in an interview with Radio Scotland on 16 January 2002; what investigations, including technical investigations, it has carried out into this possibility, and what discussions it has held on such a scheme.

Lewis Macdonald: In principle, the Borders railway could operate either light or heavy rail. However, the decision as to which option is to be operated will be a matter for the working group, led by Scottish Borders Council, which is responsible for taking forward the project.

Roads

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what contractual requirements are placed on Amey Highways Ltd under the trunk road maintenance contracts to respond to requests from the police to carry out winter maintenance.

Lewis Macdonald: Amey is required to work closely with the police and others during the winter season to ensure that all parties are aware of actions being taken. There is no contractual requirement on them to respond to requests from the police in carrying out winter maintenance activities, which are the responsibility of the operating companies.

Roads

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what volume of herbicide has been used per mile of trunk road by (a) BEAR Scotland Ltd, (b) Amey Highways Ltd and (c) Autolink Concessionaires Ltd since the beginning of their respective contracts.

Lewis Macdonald: The total volume of herbicide used by BEAR Scotland Ltd and Amey Highways Ltd since 1 April 2001 is as follows:

  BEAR Scotland Ltd – 1,371 litres

  Amey Highways Ltd – 1,551 litres

  BEAR is responsible for 1,270 miles of trunk road and Amey for 706 miles, although herbicides are only used at specific locations.

  The approximate volume of herbicide used by Autolink Concessionaires (M6) plc during 2001 on the 56 miles of motorway between Junction 12 and Junction 22 of the A74(M)/M74 was 34 litres per mile. This volume will reduce now that the new motorway landscaping has been established. Autolink do not have figures prior to 2001 due to the subcontractor going into liquidation.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-3907 and S1W-20775 by Mr Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen on 4 October 2001 and 7 January 2002 respectively, whether the bids submitted by local authorities for funding to improve school buildings require to be in respect of the whole of the school estate and, if not, whether such bids which only cover part of the school estate are less likely to succeed in attracting funding.

Nicol Stephen: The nature of the bids is a matter for each authority in the light of their plans for the delivery of education and the management of their school stock. All bids will be assessed against the same criteria. They do not require to be for the whole of the school estate.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-3907 and S1W-20775 by Mr Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen on 4 October 2001 and 7 January 2002 respectively, what criteria will be used in determining how funds to improve school buildings will be allocated among the competing bids.

Nicol Stephen: The bid assessment criteria are set out in Scottish Executive Education Department circular 8/2001 , copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-3907 and S1W-20775 by Mr Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen on 4 October 2001 and 7 January 2002 respectively, whether the bidding process for funding to improve school buildings will give any incentive to local authorities which are reducing the size of their school estates.

Nicol Stephen: All bids are subject to the same assessment criteria. In relation to any school building proposals, authorities should take a strategic view of their needs and take account of pupil number projections and the number and location of school places available.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-3907 and S1W-20775 by Mr Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen on 4 October 2001 and 7 January 2002 respectively, what the total value is of bids received so far for funding to improve school buildings and what level of funding is being made available in response.

Nicol Stephen: The capital value of the bids received in December 2001 is approximately £1.9 billion. Final decisions have still to be taken on the level of revenue support which will be available.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-3907 and S1W-20775 by Mr Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen on 4 October 2001 and 7 January 2002 respectively, whether any account is taken of rurality in the bidding process for funding to improve school buildings.

Nicol Stephen: Bids are being assessed against the assessment criteria set out in Scottish Executive Education Department circular 8/2001 . These criteria apply equally to bids which include proposals for schools in rural or non-rural areas.

Schools

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what national standards are in existence which define the area of playground required in schools.

Nicol Stephen: There is a requirement for every school to have, immediately adjacent to the school building, an outdoor area or areas laid out and surfaced for educational and recreational activities. The area of such space is not currently defined and will vary according to the nature and layout of particular school sites and the related buildings.

Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency in 2002-03.

Ross Finnie: The agency’s performance against its targets in 2000-01 was published in full in its Annual Report and Accounts laid before the Scottish Parliament in August (Bib. number 15417). The performance against its targets in 2001-02 will be reported in the Annual Report and Accounts to be laid before the Scottish Parliament in 2002.

  For 2002-03 I have set the agency the following key performance targets:

  Quantitative targets

  Achievement of a target income of £120,000 from new work or new customers.

  Completion of 96% of all scientific tests and analysis within the timescales set by customers.

  Improvement in the unit cost of the scientific work of the agency (cost per direct scientific hour).

  As part of the agency’s rolling programme of consultation with customers, ensuring that 95% of the customers surveyed are at least "satisfied".

  Milestone targets

  Fulfilment of the Service Level Agreement within the budget agreed with the Environment and Rural Affairs Department.

  Formal quality assurance accreditation for the Pesticide Usage Surveying work of the agency.

Scottish Executive Buildings

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the operating costs of its Brussels office have been in each of the last four years and in the current year to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since establishing the Scottish Executive EU Office on 1 July 1999, its operating costs have been:

  


July 1999 - March 2000 
  

£322,000 
  



April 2000 - March 2001 
  

£450,000 
  



April 2001 - December 2001 
  

£306,000

Scottish Executive Contracts

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts have been awarded to Arthur Andersen Consulting by (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) agencies of the Scottish Executive and (c) non-departmental public bodies stating, for each organisation under (a), (b) and (c), (i) the number of contracts awarded, (ii) the total value of contracts awarded, (iii) the areas of work in which contracts were awarded and (iv) the percentage of all contracts awarded, all since 1 July 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Only four contracts have been placed with Arthur Andersen or Arthur Andersen Consulting since 1 July 1999. All four were awarded following competition.

  Expenditure to date on these contracts is £410,000. However, three contracts have not yet been completed and it is expected that additional expenditure will be incurred in 2002 and 2003 taking the estimated total value to around £1.1 million.

  Two of the four contracts were in respect of financial advice - one in connection with a PFI project and one in connection with broadband. The other two contracts were in respect of consultancy advice - one in connection with continuous professional development for teachers and one in connection with a review of Scottish Police Information Strategy.

  None of the Executive’s agencies have placed any contracts with Arthur Andersen over the period.

  Procurement of goods and services by non-departmental public bodies is a matter for the individual body concerned.

Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has received to its policy and financial management review of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and when it plans to undertake a second stage consultation on this issue.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There have been 45 responses to the first consultation paper issued in October 2001. It is planned to issue a second stage, wider-ranging consultation paper on higher education and the future role of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in April.

Sexual Offences

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19180 by Iain Gray on 15 November 2001, what further research has been carried out into "attrition rate" as recommended by Dr Lynn Jamieson and Dr Michelle Burman in the Central Research Unit report The "Attrition" of Sexual Offences in the Criminal Justice System .

Mr Jim Wallace: No further research has been carried out into the rate of attrition in sexual offence cases. Responses to the consultation document, Towards a Just Conclusion , provided numerous examples of the problems experienced by victims giving evidence. As noted in my response to your question on plans for research into the treatment of sexual offence witnesses in court (question S1W-18513, answered on 9 October 2001), we plan to commission further research to provide a baseline of information prior to any changes to be brought about by the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Bill.

Warm Deal

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households had insulation installed under the Warm Deal between 1 April and 31 December 2001, broken down by local authority area.

Iain Gray: Information on the Warm Deal will be published in the Scottish Executive’s next annual report, "Benefits from the Warm Deal in Scotland 2001-2002". The report will be available later in the year and copies will be sent to all MSPs. Details are not collected by local authority area.

Warm Deal

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households had insulation installed under the Warm Deal between 1 April and 31 December 2000, broken down by local authority area.

Iain Gray: Information on the Warm Deal is published in the Scottish Executive’s annual report, Benefits from the Warm Deal in Scotland 2000-2001 (Bib. number 17363). Copies were placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Details are not collected by local authority area.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will issue an opinion on the environmental impact of the new Milngavie reservoir proposed as part of the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: I understand that East Dunbartonshire Council, as planning authority, is presently giving consideration to a planning application and environmental statement submitted by the West of Scotland Water Authority for the Katrine Water Project. As a statutory consultee, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been given the opportunity to comment on the environmental statement.